9/23/2011

Erdogan threatens that Turkey will do whatever is necessary if the UN member states do not stop Cyprus exploration for oil and natural gas

Under the title: “Stop the Greek Cypriots or else we will do whatever is necessary”, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (23.09.11) reports that during his address yesterday at the General Assembly of the United Nations, the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on the UN member states to exert active efforts to stop the activities of the Greek Cypriots which, he alleged, might cause tension not only on the island but in the entire region. “Otherwise we will do whatever is necessary”, he threatened.

Erdogan said that a just, comprehensive and lasting solution should at last be reached to the problem which continues for 50 years, as he claimed, in Cyprus.

He added the following: “The parameters of the solution were clear in the UN solution plan of 2004, but it showed that no will for solution exists in the Greek Cypriot side. In spite of the fact that the Turkish Cypriot side has always put forward its will in the direction of the solution, it could not yet be saved from the isolation. In spite of this, the Turkish Cypriot side preserved its commitment to peace and solution and participated with good will in the negotiations which resumed under the supervision of the UN.

The target is for the negotiations to reach a result by the end of this year and after the approval of the solution plan in a referendum in the beginning of next year, the new Cyprus to take its place in the European Union. We as Turkey will continue to provide any kind of support for reaching a solution the soonest within the framework of the above-mentioned timetable. However, in case the intransigent stance of the Greek Cypriot side does not allow this, I want to stress also that as guarantor country we will not allow for the future of the Turkish Cypriot people to be uncertain forever. At this critical stage, we cannot accept the Greek Cypriot side to act as if it is the only administration of the island or as if it has the authority to decide in the name of the Turkish Cypriots. The attempt of the Greek Cypriot side to determine alone the areas of jurisdiction in the sea and explore for oil and natural gas in these areas, is an extremely irresponsible attitude from the point of view of its timing and possible consequences.

In front of these unilateral activities of the Greek Cypriot sides, which in fact aim at creating a crisis, Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side will act with common sense, but they will protect their rights deriving from the international law. Our expectation now from all sides concerned is to exert active efforts in the direction of stopping these initiatives of the Greek Cypriot administration which could cause tension not only on the island but in the entire region. Otherwise, we will do whatever is necessary”.

Meanwhile, Kibris (23.09.11) reports also that in statements in New York to the well-known American journalist Charlie Rose, Erdogan said that the Turkish ship which will carry out seismic exploration in the Mediterranean has sailed and is on its way to Cyprus. Erdogan reiterated the Turkish allegation that Turkey, as guarantor power in Cyprus, will protect the rights of the Turkish Cypriots.